Department of Politics and International Studies
Professor in International Relations
Department of Politics and International Studies
Admissions Tutor: MSc International Politics
Department of Politics and International Studies
Programme Convenor (MSc Politics of Africa)
Associate Member, Centre for Media and Film Studies
Stephen was an international civil servant involved with several key diplomatic initiatives in Africa, helping to pioneer modern electoral observation, and continues to be seconded to diplomatic assignments today.
He has twice been Dean at SOAS and has published 35 books and supervised 40 successful PhD theses. He won the 2010 International Studies Association prize, Eminent Scholar in Global Development, and broadcasts and lectures internationally.
Research interests
International politics of Southern Africa. Multicultural composition of ethics
PhD Supervision
Open to PhD supervision in selected aspects of African Politics and Multicultural Approaches to Ethics.
Diplomatic training in Eritrea: Dignity, respect and the international sphere
Chan, Stephen (2026). In: Craggs, Ruth, (eds.), Harris, Jonathan, (eds.) and McConnell, Fiona, (eds.), Diplomatic training : histories, geographies, politics. Manchester: Manchester University Press
Trauma and Dislocation in the Postsecular World: Religious Fervour and the Problem of Methodology
Chan, Stephen (2014). In: Mavelli, Luca, (eds.) and Petito, Fabio, (eds.), Towards a Postsecular International Politics: New Forms of Community, Identity and Power. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp 49-64
The Oriental Martial Arts as Hybrid Totems, together with Orientalised Avatars
Chan, Stephen (2011). In: Farrer, D. S., (eds.) and Whalen-Bridge, John, (eds.), Martial Arts as Embodied Knowledge: Asian Traditions in a Transnational World. Albany: SUNY Press
Ten Caveats and One Sunrise in Our Contemplation of China and Africa
Chan, Stephen (2008). In: Alden, Chris, (eds.), Large, Daniel, (eds.) and Oliveira, Ricardo Soares de, (eds.), China Returns to Africa: A Rising Power and Continent Embrace. London: Hurst Publishers
Chan, Stephen (2007). In: Moyo, Gugulethu, (eds.) and Ashurst, Mark, (eds.), The Day After Mugabe: Prospects for Change in Zimbabwe. London: Africa Research Institute
Stories of Priam and Job, the Slaughter of Their Families, and Twenty Theses on the Suggestiveness of Good for the Person of IR
Chan, Stephen (2001). In: Chan, Stephen, (eds.), Mandaville, Peter, (eds.) and Bleiker, R., (eds.), The Zen of International Relations. IR Theory from East to West.. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp 99-126
